Internal-combustion engine



Oct. 1, 1946. L. L. BELTz v INTERNL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 2, 1944 Patented Oct. 1, 1946 s PATENT oFFlcE IN TERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Lester L. Beltz, Detroit, Mich assignor to Packard. Motor Car Company. Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 2, 1944, Serial No. 538,376 6 claims. (c1. 12s- 179) This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to electric starting and ingition systems for engines. v

In starting internal combustion engines equipped with a magneto and distributor for supplying current-,to the spark plugs, the engine is turning so slowly that the current development is unsatisfactory to ignite the engine fuel charges and an auxiliary booster system isxoften utilized for supplying stronger current to the distributor. Such booster systems are connected with a storage battery and-arev controlled to function concurrently-,with the electric system between the battory and the starter motor. The booster circuit includes a grounded booster coil connected with an electrode that trails the distributor electrode in a path engaging distributor contacts connected with thespark plugs.

When such a sparking system is employed with engines used as Aa power plant for airplanes, trouble is encountered` in rareiied atmosphere due to the dielectric of the air breaking clown. When such break down occurs, current from the maefnv neto jumps to the booster electrode and the magneto will be grounded through the booster coil thus seriously interfering with or cutting ou engine ignition.

An object of the invention is to provide an ignition system, of the type referred to, in which the possibility of shorting the magneto through the booster system is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control for an ignition booster system, of the type referred to, so that the circuit between the grounded booster coi-l and electrode is made or broken concurrently with the electric circuit of an engine starter motor.

Other objects of the invention willappear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, which forms a part of this specication, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of an ignition and starting system shown applied to a fragmentary elevational View of an engine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the distributor in the ignition system.

In the drawing, a conventional engine I Il is illustrated as having a head portion I I, four cylinders I2, ywheel I3 and a shelf portion I4.

A conventional electric starter system is provided to turn the ywheel, and such system includes an electric motor I5 for rotating a shaft I6 carrying gear I1 adapted to mesh wtih ring gear I 8 on the flywheel. The electric starter motor is connected with the storage battery I8 by a tor.

' by the engine crankshaft.

circuit in which wire I9 is connected to terminal 20 of the battery gand to contact 2|. Another wire 22 is connected to terminal 23 on the electric motor and to switch contact 24. The circuit also includesa switch 25 movable to engage the switch contacts 2l and 24 or to be spaced therefrom by4 a spring 2B bearing against a stationary part of the engine 21.

Switch 25 is automatically closed by solenoid28 arranged in a circuit leading to the storage battery. This circuit comprises a wire 29 connected with terminals 30 and 3|, a wire 32 connected with terminal 3| and switch contact 33, and a wire 34 connected with switch contact 35 and the battery terminal 2t.' This circuit is controlled by switch member 36 that is manually operated to be engaged with or spaced from switch contacts'33., 35,. Y

When the main control switch 36 is closed, solenoid 2-8 is energized moving switch 25 to engage contacts 2I' and 24, thus completing the circuit from the battery to the electric starter mo- The motor will drive the flywheel I 3y through gear I1 that is moved to mesh with the ring gear I8. When the switch 36 is open, thev electric circuit to the starter motor is broken` and the starter *gear* I1 is disengaged from the flywheel. The electric ignition system includes magneto 40, distributor 4I and spark plugs 42. The magneto rotor and the distributor rotor 31 are rotated by shaft 43 carrying gear 44 driven by gear 45 that is operated by the usual mechanism driven The distributor casing carries-spaced contacts 46 connected .by wires 41' with the spark plugs. The distributor rotor y31-has acontact 48 .from which electrode 49 eX- tends so that it will pass adjacent contacts 46 during its Arotation and current is supplied to contact 48 from the magneto.

An ignition booster system is provided and its circuit includes a controlled portion of the solenoid circuit and a grounded booster coil 50. The grounded booster coil has a terminal 5I that is connected by wire 52 with terminal 3l and the coil may be connected with terminal 53 on the distributor which in turn is connected by wiring 55 and- 56 to a booster electrode 54 secured to the rotor 31 of the distributor. This booster electrode is arranged so that it rotates adjacent contacts 46 and trails electrode 49 approximately the distance between two of the contacts 46.

If the grounded booster coil is wired directly to the booster electrode, current from the main ignition electrode 49 will jump to the booster electrede so that the magneto will be grounded 3 through the coil when an altitude is reached where the dielectric of the air breaks down. In order -to prevent such grounding of the magneto in rareed atmosphere and maintain engine ignition. I provide a control means, in the form of a switch 51, in the booster circuit between the grounded booster coil and the terminal 53- of the distributor. Switch con-tact 58 is connected to the booster coil terminal 59 by Wire 60 and switch contact 6| is connected to terminal 53 lby Wire 62.r

This switch 5l could be manually operated but I prefer to operate it automatically and concurrently with the main control switch 3E. Switch 57 is urged away from contacts 5B and 5l by a spring 63 bearing against a stationary portion 64 of the engine and a solenoid 65 is utilized to close lthe switch when energized. The. solenoid is connected with the booster circuit and the circuit for starter switch solenoid 28 by wire 66 attached to terminals 3l and 6l. Because of this control arrangement of solenoid 65, switch 5'! will be moved to establish the booster circuit concurrently with closing of the circuit for solenoid 28 by means of the main control switch 3S. Thus, solenoid actuated switches 25 and 51 will operate similarly and -concurrently under control of switch 35. Whenever switch 36 is open, the circuit between IJthe booster coil 50 and the distributor is broken by spring 63 opening switch 51 and consequently the magneto can not be grounded through the booster coil when the booster circuit is broken. It will thus be seen that the main ignition system can not be interrupted by grounding through the booster system during engine operation in rarefied atmosphere.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than that described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In an electric sparking system having a magneto and a distributor in which an electrode is rotated by the engine and engages contacts to complete circuits from the magneto to spark plugs, the combination 'with a booster circuit having a, grounded booster coil and a booster electrode for engaging the distributor contacts, said booster electrode rotating with and trailing the distributor electrode, of switch means in the booster circuit between the coil and the electrode.

2. In an electric sparking system having 1a magneto and a distributor in which an electrode is rotated by the engine and enga-ges contacts to complete circuits from the magneto to the spark plugs, the combination with a booster circuit having a grounded booster coil and a booster electrode for engaging the distributor contacts, said booster electrode rotating with and trailing the distributor electrode, of switch means in the booster circuit between the coil and the electrode, and means for automatically opening said switch means when the engine is operating under its own power. y,

3. In an electric sparking system having a magneto and a distributor in which an electrode is rotated by the engine and engages contacts to complete circuits from the magneto to the spark plugs, the combination with a booster circuit having a grounded booster coil and a booster electrode for engaging the distributor contacts, said booster electrode rotating with and trailing the distributor electrode, of normally open switch .means in the booster circuit between the coil and the electrode, and means for closing said switch means while cranking the engine for starting.

fl. In an electric sparking system having a magneto and a, distributor in which an electrode is rotated by the engine and engages contacts to complete circuits from the magneto to spark plugs, the combination with a booster circuit having a grounded booster coil and a booster electrode for engaging the distributor contacts, said booster electrode rotating with and trailing the distributor electrode, of switch means in the booster circuit between the coil vand the electrode, and a solenoid for controlling said switch means. f

5.- In an engine having an electric starter motor system, a, magneto and distributor ignition system and a booster ignition system including a grounded coil connected with the distributor ignition system, control means 'comprising switch means in the starter system, switch means in the `booster system between the coil and the distributor ignition system, solenoids for operating both switch means when energized, electric circuits for the solenoids having a, portion in common, and a main control switch in said portion of the circuits.

6. In an engine having an electric starter motor, a magneto and distributor ignition system and a, booster ignition system including a coil connected with the distributor ignition system, control means comprising an electric circuit for the starter motor lhaving a switch therein, an electric circuit for the booster system having a grounded coil, an electrode and a switch between the coil and the electrode, solenoids for operating said switches, electric circuits for the solenoids, said solenoid circuits and said booster circuit each having a portion in-common, anda main control switch in said common portion of the circuits.

LESTER L. BEL'IZ. 

